By FESTUS AHON
UGHELLI—THE Chairman of the Ijaw chapter of Host Communities of Nigeria, Oil and Gas, HOSTCON, Chief James Orubu, has charged the leadership of the Delta State Oil Producing Area Commission, DESOPADEC, to ensure equitable distribution of employment slots and projects in all oil and gas producing communities in the State.

Orubu, who gave the charge while chatting with newsmen, yesterday, restated the resolve of all oil- producing communities in Ijawland to maintain peace.

He said they would continue to support  Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, urging him not to relent in his determination to develop all parts of the state.

Orubu said: “The bottom–up approach which DESOPADEC is trying to adopt is in line with the aspiration of Host communities. It is the only realistic way of developing these backward communities.”

He, however, said; “We have been observing with serious concern and dismay the declining trend of our quota coming to Ijaw Ethnic Nationality for project execution, this trend can no more be condoned. We hereby beseech our commissioner to take this ugly and disturbing trend to our governor for a reversal.”

Commending the chairman of DESOPADEC, Mr. Oritsuwa Kpogho for the successful town hall meeting at Ekerenkoko, he also commended Governor Uduaghan for conceiving the idea of  town hall meeting.

He said: “I thank the Ijaw commissioner in the Board of DESOPADEC, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro for his team spirit. His foresight and determination to carry everybody along has led to the successful first town hall meeting at Ekerenkoko in Gbaramatu kingdom.”

“The Mirco Credit scheme should be re-organized as soon as possible for most of our women to benefit from. Some of the projects awarded by the past administration are still not completed.

“We want to suggest and demand that the contracts are reviewed and completed for use. HOSTCON frown seriously at the special project-syndrome whereby our money is siphoned or is diverted to big projects outside the oil producing communities.

“The practice where jobs or projects were sited outside the oil producing communities based on political consideration should stop.”